Court cases and tribunals in Australia have been affected by a cybersecurity incident, which may have allowed hackers to access recordings of hearings, according to the Court Services Victoria (CSV).
The CSV announced the incident in a statement on January 2, 2024.
This public notice came 12 days after the CSV was first made aware of the cyber incident on December 21, 2023. The CSV explained that it took time to determine which recordings and transcripts were impacted.
The incident led to unauthorized access to CSV systems, causing disruption to the audio visual in-court technology network, including video recordings, audio recordings, and transcription services.
Although the agency promptly isolated and disabled the affected network, hearings recorded between November 1 and December 21, 2023, may have been accessed in the cyber-attack, including cases heard in the Supreme Court of Victoria, the highest court in the state. It is also possible that some hearings stored on the network before November 1 were accessed.
Protected Identities at Risk
Some of the compromised recordings may involve individuals whose identities are protected by court orders or legislation.
Louise Anderson, CEO of the CSV, expressed understanding and apologized for the distress caused by the incident to those involved in a hearing.
No further details about the nature of the incident have been disclosed, and the CSV is currently unaware of any recordings being released.
All courts are operational, having implemented safety measures to continue operating securely while the affected network is being restored by CSV.
The agency confirmed that no other court systems or records, including employee or financial data, were accessed in the attack. It has informed relevant authorities, including Victoria Police, who are assisting with the investigation and response.
The CSV is working to notify individuals in hearings where recordings may have been accessed. They have also set up a Contact Center staffed by dedicated personnel to provide additional information or assistance.
The agency also mentioned efforts to enhance security across the broader court and tribunal-wide technology environment.